Beginner looking for some info
Hello,
I'm sorta new to C++, I've played around with C# and Java (as hobby, nothing professional) and thought I would give it a try for some projects.
I know the basics and such, I read about 3 C++ books looking for something that I still haven't found, and I'm resorting to forums now. It's about Win32 Apps, Games and about work.
1. I've been reading some tutorials on the net and a book (Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++ 2005) on Win32 Apps with Visual Studio but I guess since it should be sorta out of date, I get some errors that I don't understand when it comes to Win32 app.
The book tells about 3 methods to start a Win32 App, the basic way, MFC and Windows Forms. Though I'm only interested in the basic way (I find it interesting to know more about how things *work* - that's why I became interested in C++) the book doesn't give much info on it, and even though I managed to work a simple window I couldn't understand alot of how it actually works.
So is there any info/book/tutorial on it that explains it in detail how it works?
2. I'm trying to make a game, crappy one, just for fun and to learn from, but I think I'm stuck at the moment.
I've read Beginning C++ Game Programming by Michael Dawson (it was the first book suggested when I started) and I think I can work fine on any console game and I want to move on to Windows Plataform, but I just don't know where to start.
I first thought that I should just learn the WinAPI basics (hence the 1st question) and then I could start thinking on a game, but even having an idea of how it works I don't know how to proceed anymore.
Basically what I want to know if how do I draw a bitmap on screen, how do I create an update method to make it move, how do I load content, etc
3. And last it's about working, what's the standard knowledge required to start working with C++?
I'm really enjoying it but I don't know if I have the skills to start working with, seeing that I don't even know how to make a basic Windows Program I think it's still really early, but some friends told me it's not required to know how to make Win Apps, but mostly console applications.
Since they're not professionals either I find it dubious...
Sorry for the length/poor english, hopefully it'll be at least understandable...
I'm sorta new to C++, I've played around with C# and Java (as hobby, nothing professional) and thought I would give it a try for some projects.
I know the basics and such, I read about 3 C++ books looking for something that I still haven't found, and I'm resorting to forums now. It's about Win32 Apps, Games and about work.
1. I've been reading some tutorials on the net and a book (Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++ 2005) on Win32 Apps with Visual Studio but I guess since it should be sorta out of date, I get some errors that I don't understand when it comes to Win32 app.
The book tells about 3 methods to start a Win32 App, the basic way, MFC and Windows Forms. Though I'm only interested in the basic way (I find it interesting to know more about how things *work* - that's why I became interested in C++) the book doesn't give much info on it, and even though I managed to work a simple window I couldn't understand alot of how it actually works.
So is there any info/book/tutorial on it that explains it in detail how it works?
2. I'm trying to make a game, crappy one, just for fun and to learn from, but I think I'm stuck at the moment.
I've read Beginning C++ Game Programming by Michael Dawson (it was the first book suggested when I started) and I think I can work fine on any console game and I want to move on to Windows Plataform, but I just don't know where to start.
I first thought that I should just learn the WinAPI basics (hence the 1st question) and then I could start thinking on a game, but even having an idea of how it works I don't know how to proceed anymore.
Basically what I want to know if how do I draw a bitmap on screen, how do I create an update method to make it move, how do I load content, etc
3. And last it's about working, what's the standard knowledge required to start working with C++?
I'm really enjoying it but I don't know if I have the skills to start working with, seeing that I don't even know how to make a basic Windows Program I think it's still really early, but some friends told me it's not required to know how to make Win Apps, but mostly console applications.
Since they're not professionals either I find it dubious...
Sorry for the length/poor english, hopefully it'll be at least understandable...
Last edited on
1.) You could try the MSDN, a simple google should get you there.
2.) First, I would start with just console apps, so you can get a feel for coding/making stuff. Then after you basically make a simple game in that, you can go ahead and start an actually visual game. Generally you will use a graphic system (usually DirectX or OpenGL) and have that do the drawing/stuff for you, so you should do some research on them (I would suggest OpenGL because it's open source/multiplatform).
3.) Well, IMHO, just basic logic and the ability to learn syntax and stuff. In essence, that is all programming really is, just having an idea and knowing how to turn it into code. (Efficient code is another matter entirely though).
2.) First, I would start with just console apps, so you can get a feel for coding/making stuff. Then after you basically make a simple game in that, you can go ahead and start an actually visual game. Generally you will use a graphic system (usually DirectX or OpenGL) and have that do the drawing/stuff for you, so you should do some research on them (I would suggest OpenGL because it's open source/multiplatform).
3.) Well, IMHO, just basic logic and the ability to learn syntax and stuff. In essence, that is all programming really is, just having an idea and knowing how to turn it into code. (Efficient code is another matter entirely though).
you shouldn't have to spend money on books when the entire internet is at your expense... ;)
books do help though, especially at the beginning... the internet is a distraction lol!!
windows programming starts with win32 and move to mfc, com, atl etc etc..
1. you should first start learning win32, take the book charles petzold. download it from torrent. :D
and you can move to learning mfc (microsoft foundation classes). but going to win32 is not a good move, first learn c/c++. good books can be
C programming language by Dennis Ritchie
C++ programming language by Bjarne Stroustrup. that answers your first question.
2. Game programming on windows can be done using win32, these api's are for GUI programming but if you try to create a game it will have no performance and the screen will flicker as you draw the sceen. for that you have to learn DirectX and direct3D. and to learn that you should know win32 and COM. but yes you can develop simple games like tic-tac-toe, checkers, using win32 which doesnt need much graphics. you can draw a bitmap on screen in win32 using bitblt. read about it on msdn.
3. to work in C++ you dont have to know windows programming or how to make screens. if you know c++ or c properly then learning some new api's is just a matter of childs play. so learn C++ before doing anything, create some console applications, create some data structure programs like stacks, trees etc and from there you can move forward.
1. you should first start learning win32, take the book charles petzold. download it from torrent. :D
and you can move to learning mfc (microsoft foundation classes). but going to win32 is not a good move, first learn c/c++. good books can be
C programming language by Dennis Ritchie
C++ programming language by Bjarne Stroustrup. that answers your first question.
2. Game programming on windows can be done using win32, these api's are for GUI programming but if you try to create a game it will have no performance and the screen will flicker as you draw the sceen. for that you have to learn DirectX and direct3D. and to learn that you should know win32 and COM. but yes you can develop simple games like tic-tac-toe, checkers, using win32 which doesnt need much graphics. you can draw a bitmap on screen in win32 using bitblt. read about it on msdn.
3. to work in C++ you dont have to know windows programming or how to make screens. if you know c++ or c properly then learning some new api's is just a matter of childs play. so learn C++ before doing anything, create some console applications, create some data structure programs like stacks, trees etc and from there you can move forward.
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